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ULM Faces Road Test at Southern Miss

ULM Faces Road Test at Southern Miss

Men's Basketball Dec 19
Game 6: ULM (2-3) vs. Southern Miss (2-3)
Saturday, Dec. 19 | 2 p.m.
Hattiesburg, Miss. | Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)
Watch: CUSA.TV | Listen: KLIP 105.3FM
 

2020-21 ULM Basketball Notes: Game 6 vs. Southern Miss
 
STORYLINE –
After going 1-2 on its recent homestand, ULM (2-3) travels to Southern Miss (2-3) for a non-conference game on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.
 
The Warhawks and Golden Eagles have played one common opponent this season, in Lamar. Both games were each decided by three points. ULM dropped its home opener to the Cardinals, 63-60, on a desperation 3-pointer from near midcourt at the buzzer while USM posted a 66-63 win at Lamar on Tuesday.
 
ULM's starting lineup features two double-figure scorers, in forward Russell Harrison (14.4 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) and guard Koreem Ozier (12.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg.). Harrison leads the Warhawks in scoring, rebounding and 3-point field goals made (11).
 
THE STARTING FIVE –
• Junior forward Russell Harrison leads ULM in scoring (14.4 points per game), rebounding (6.4 pg.) and 3-point field goals made (11). The 6-foot-7 Harrison is the only Warhawk who has scored in double figures in each of the first five games. He set season highs for points (22), rebounds (9) and assists (3) in the home opener against Lamar.
 
Harrison ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 10 in 3-point field goals made (seventh at 2.4 pg.), minutes played (eighth at 32.5 mpg.) and scoring (ninth).
 
• Junior guard Koreem Ozier leads the team in minutes played (33.1 per game) and ranks second in scoring (12.8 ppg.) and rebounding (4.6 rpg.). The 6-foot-1 Ozier has posted double figures twice, including a season-high 28 points in ULM's 66-55 victory over SFA. He made 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 3-pointers, and all six free-throw attempts against the Lumberjacks.
 
Ozier played a solid all-around game in ULM's 92-83 overtime win at Northwestern State, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
 
The transfer from Sacred Heart University is listed among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in minutes played (sixth at 33.1 mpg.) and 3-point field-goal percentage (10th at .438; 7-of-16).
 
• Junior guard Elijah Gonzales leads the Warhawks in 3-point field-goal percentage (.714), assists (22) and steals (9). The 5-foot-11 Gonzales has led the team in assists in each of the last three games.
 
The transfer from Clarendon College ranks among the Sun Belt Conference's Top 10 in three different statistical categories: first in 3-point field-goal percentage (.714), fourth in assists (4.4 per game) and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2).
 
Gonzales came off the bench to provide a spark in ULM's 66-55 win over Stephen F. Austin, finishing with 16 points, four rebounds, seven assists and two steals. He connected on 6-of-8 shots from the floor, including all three from behind the 3-point arc, against SFA.
 
A native of Clackamas, Oregon, Gonzales added nine points, four assists and a steal in nearly 25 minutes in ULM's overtime win at Northwestern State.
 
• ULM ranks among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in turnovers (third at 13.0 per game), 3-point field-goal percentage (fifth at .351) and 3-point field goals made (fifth at 8.0 pg.). In addition, the Warhawks are recording an assist on 53 percent (61-of-115) of their made field goals.
 
• Throughout preseason practice, ULM head coach Keith Richard noted the improved depth on the 2020-21 roster. Take a look his playing rotation through the first five games and you'll see nine different players are logging more than 10 minutes per game. In addition, the Warhawk bench has outscored the opponent's reserves in three of the first five games while providing 24.0 points per game. The bench accounted for a season-high 38 points in ULM's 92-83 overtime win at Northwestern State.
 
ULM/SOUTHERN MISS SERIES NOTES –
Saturday's game marks the 38th meeting between ULM and Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series 22-15 (.595), including a 16-5 record (.762) in games played in Hattiesburg, Miss. Southern Miss has won seven out of the last nine meetings; however, ULM won the last meeting on Dec. 9, 1999, 77-63, in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Warhawks' last victory in Hattiesburg came on Dec. 8, 1992, 79-67.
 
WARHAWKS vs. CONFERENCE USA TEAMS –
The Warhawks have compiled a 116-146 record (.443) against current members of Conference USA (2-6 vs. Florida Atlantic, 4-4 vs. FIU, 36-53 vs. Louisiana Tech, 6-9 vs. Middle Tennessee, 30-23 vs. North Texas, 2-0 vs. Rice, 15-22 vs. Southern Miss, 1-2 vs. UAB, 0-2 vs. UTEP, 19-13 vs. UTSA and 1-12 vs. Western Kentucky).
 
ULM faces its second opponent from the C-USA this season, in Southern Miss. The Warhawks opened the 2020-21 season with a 78-62 loss at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 3.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT –
Grambling 78, ULM 61 (Dec. 16 in Monroe, La.): The chill in the air at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Wednesday night had nothing to do with the mid-December temperature outside.
 
Shots weren't falling for ULM as the Warhawks dropped a 78-61 decision to Grambling State.
 
The Warhawks (2-3) shot 30 percent from the field (19-of-63) after opening the game 2-for-18 and never recovered. Russell Harrison with 13 points and Marco Morency with 11 were the only ULM players to reach double figures.
 
The visiting Tigers had hotter hands while shooting 52 percent (29-of-56). Cameron Woodall (17), Cameron Christon (17), Sarion McGee (16) and Prince Moss (11) paced a balanced Grambling offense.
 
Grambling (2-3) led 40-27 by halftime, as ULM labored through horrific shooting woes. The Warhawks shot 23 percent in the half (8-of-35) and Grambling finished with a 7-0 spurt to build a 13-point advantage.
 
ULM started the game with a 7-2 burst as Grambling went 1-for-7 from the field, but its last lead was 10-8 with 13:46 on the clock The Warhawks struggled through a 1-for-18 drought of their own to fall behind 17-10 by the 10:53 mark of the first half.
 
Through 20 minutes, Grambling held big edges in points in the paint (16-6) and fast-break points (9-0).
 
Morency and Harrison scored eight points each to pace ULM in the half.
 
ULM couldn't gain traction in the second half as Grambling outscored the Warhawks, 38-34, over the final 20 minutes.
 
Overall, Grambling made 11-of-23 3-pointers and outscored ULM, 30-18, in the paint. Grambling led for 32:28 of the contest.
 
WARHAWK STAT LEADERS –
Double-figure scoring games (15): Russell Harrison 5, Marco Morency 3, Josh Nicholas 2, Koreem Ozier 2, Thomas Howell 1, Elijah Gonzales 1, Luke Phillips 1. Opponents: 18.
 
20-point games (2). Russell Harrison 1, Koreem Ozier 1. Opponents: 1.
 
Double-figure rebounding games (0): None. Opponents: 4.
 
Double-doubles (0): None. Opponents: 4.
 
Games leading ULM in scoring: Russell Harrison 3, Koreem Ozier 2.
 
Games leading ULM in rebounding: Russell Harrison 3, Thomas Howell 1, Koreem Ozier 1.
 
Games leading ULM in assists: Elijah Gonzales 3, Marco Morency 1, Koreem Ozier 1.
 
2020-21 ULM STARTING LINEUPS –
Dec. 3 at Louisiana Tech: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 6 at Northwestern State: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Howell
Dec. 9 vs. Lamar: Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 12 vs. Stephen F. Austin: Nicholas, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
Dec. 16 vs. Grambling State: Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei
                                
Different Starting Combinations (4):
Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 2 (0-2)
Olonade, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Howell: 1 (1-0)
Nicholas, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 1 (1-0)
Gonzales, Ozier, Morency, Harrison, Efretuei: 1 ( 0-1)
 
2020-21 WARHAWK STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Games played in Fant-Ewing Coliseum: 1-2
Games played on the road: 1-1
Games played at a neutral site: 0-0                    
 
Games played in December: 2-3
Games played in January: 0-0
Games played in February: 0-0
Games played in March: 0-0                              
 
When leading at halftime: 1-1
When trailing at halftime: 1-2
When tied at halftime: 0-0
 
When shooting .500 or better from the field: 1-0
When shooting less than .500 from the field: 1-3
When opponent shoots .500 or better from the field: 0-1
When opponent shoots less than .500 from the floor: 2-2
 
When outrebounding opponent: 1-1
When outrebounded by opponent: 0-2
When rebounding totals are equal: 1-0
 
When hitting more free throws than opponent: 2-1
When hitting fewer free throws than opponent: 0-2
When hitting the same number of free throws as opponent: 0-0
 
When committing fewer turnovers than opponent: 1-2                    
When opponent commits fewer turnovers: 1-1
When turnover totals are equal: 0-0
 
When ULM scores less than 50 points: 0-0         
When ULM scores 50-59 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 60-69 points: 1-3
When ULM scores 70-79 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 80-89 points: 0-0
When ULM scores 90-99 points: 1-0
 
When opponent scores less than 50 points: 0-0  
When opponent scores 50-59 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 60-69 points: 0-1
When opponent scores 70-79 points: 0-2
When opponent scores 80-89 points: 1-0
When opponent scores 90-99 points: 0-0
 
Games decided by five points or less: 0-1
Games decided by 6-10 points: 1-0
Games decided by 11-19 points: 1-2
Games decided by 20 points or more: 0-0
 
Last five games: 2-3                                                 
Last 10 games: ----
 
Largest deficit overcome to win: 7 (20-12 and 23-16 at Northwestern State, Dec. 6)
Largest lead surrendered in a loss: 13 (38-25 vs. Lamar, Dec. 9)
 
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